Mortgage Virtual Assistant Blog

Timely Mortgage Marketing Idea

2008-10-10T13:40:40Z

Would you like to send a marketing piece that:

stays in front of your referral source for an entire year,
reminds them of your unique selling proposition, and
doesn't cost a fortune?

If you answered "yes," have I got the idea for you. It's called a mortgage tips calendar.

What is a tips calendar? It's simply a custom-designed calendar you send to your prospects and/or SOI (sphere of influence). With low cost print-on-demand options, you don't have to spend a fortune or print hundreds of calendars.

Sources for print-on-demand calendars include lulu.com, cafepress.com and vistaprint.com

Here are some examples:

A calendar with a wealth-building tip for each month of the year.
A calendar you send to your Realtor® partners full of low-cost, highly effective marketing tips.
A calendar targeted to your first-time home buyer market, with tips to prepare them for home ownership.

Can you imagine the possibilities? Everyone who uses your calendar will have your marketing message at their fingertips throughout 2009.

Keys to making your tips calendar effective:

Make it uniquely you,
Create an attractive design,
Send it out no later than November 5.

Quickly File your Outlook Emails (Outlook 2003 Tip)

2008-09-30T20:47:47Z

By JC Kadii, MortgageVirtualAssistant.com^SM

It is good practice (not to mention a sanity saver) to file your email in folders. It not only helps you stay organized, it keeps your inbox clear of clutter.

You can set up Outlook rules to automatically file emails in a folder based on sender, recipient, subject line or other criteria.

But what if you receive an email that isn't automatically filed in the proper folder?

The old way involved,

Opening the email
Closing it
Then dragging it to the appropriate folder.

There's a quicker, easier way.
With the email still open, Type Ctrl + Shift + V. A dialog box opens, showing your available folders. Select the folder, then presto, chango, your email is moved.

How easy is that?

Want more Outlook tips? Stay tuned for my new webinar, Help for Mail Hoarders, full of quick and easy tips to help people clean their in boxes and organize their email.

JC Kadii, Mortgage Virtual Assistant^SM . 770-469-7385. Through http://www.close-more-loans.com/, JC leads a team providing top notch administrative, internet marketing, and technology services to mortgage professionals. Mortgage professionals are encouraged to visit the website and sign up for the More Closings email newsletter to receive the report 6 Steps to More Referrals.

Interesting Information on Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Bailout

2008-09-09T06:23:23Z

By JC Kadii, MortgageVirtualAssistant.com^SM

One of my (unpaid) duties as a Mortgage Virtual Assistant is to stay abreast of all the current events about the industry.

I've been doing a lot of research over the past few days into the Fannie Mae / Freddie Mac bailout is an effort to answer the question: "What does it mean for American homeowners?"

The answer I've been able to come up with is simply this: "Time will tell." The prognosticators say that the immediate effect will be lower interest rates.

Here are some interesting links:

The Fannie And Freddie Bailout, In 10 Easy Links A good starting point. Reading the first paragraph brought to mind a song I remember from my childhood: "Who Owns Papa's Land" by Sonny Okusons.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=94393089
This article contains frequently asked questions about the bailout, answered by Treasury Secretary Paulson.

The following phrase was the most interesting part of the article. What effect will reducing the portfolio of mortgage-backed securities have on the market?

increasing Fannie and Freddie's portfolio of mortgage-backed securities through the end of 2009, then reducing them by 10 percent each year, starting in 2010.

Local businesses assess fallout of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac bailout from the Washington Business Journal. This article provides an interesting twist on the bailout, exploring how the bailout may affect the Washington, DC economy. Did you know that close to 10,000 people are employed by the GSEs? Businesses that work for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are wondering how the government takeover will affect their contracts.

So, what do you think? What effect will this have? Do you have any interesting links to share?

Want to know who's twittering about you?

2008-08-21T01:08:44Z

By JC Kadii, MortgageVirtualAssistant.com^SM

An important part of online marketing is managing information, so that you don't suffer from information overload. Another important part is managing your online reputation. One way to do both is to set up a google alert, so that you receive an email when your name or industry appeals on a website or blog.

For you twitter users, there's a service called Tweetbeep. You can use tweetbeep to know who is twittering about you, your industry, or any other topic you are interested in following. According to the tweetbeep website, you can check for mentions of your site, even if the link is shortened using a service such as tinyurl.com

Oh, did I mention it's free?

Tech Tip: How to Add Words to Your Windows Dictionary

2008-08-07T09:43:56Z

By JC Kadii, MortgageVirtualAssistant.com^SM
Windows XP / Office 2003

When you run spell check, does your dictionary keep checking for words that you know are spelled correctly?

Here are some examples:
Your last name
Blog
LinkedIn
Facebook

When you run spellcheck within any Microsoft Office 2003 program (Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.) you have the option of adding mis-spelled words to your custom dictionary.

Wouldn't it be nice, though, if you could just add all of the words to the custom dictionary at once?

Here are the steps.

Find the Custom.dic file.
In Windows XP, Type CTRL + ESC, then S.
Click All files and folders.
In the box called "All or part of the file name" type custom.dic.

Run the search, and Windows should find the file (Custom.dic) in your Proof subdirectory.
Open Custom.dic (use the Notepad program).
Copy and paste (or type) all of the words you'd like to add to your custom dictionary. Make sure there is one word to a line.
Save and close Custom.dic.

Now, any Office 2003 program (Word, Outlook, etc.) will recognize the words you've added to your Custom Dictionary.

Remember, as you add words to your custom dictionary, don't forget to add the word "blog."

3 Ideas for Captivating Mortgage Email Newsletter Content

2008-08-06T17:30:33Z

By JC Kadii, MortgageVirtualAssistant.com^SM

If you aren't using email newsletters in your mortgage marketing arsenal, you are missing a golden opportunity. According to the Direct Marketing Association research, each dollar spent on email marketing in 2008 is projected to have a ROI of $48.56.

The opportunities to profit from mortgage email marketing are wide open. So few businesses consistently send out good e-newsletters, by launching an effective campaign you will automatically set your business apart from the competition.

One of my "4 Rules of Profitable Mortgage Email Newsletters" is: Profitable email newsletters provide useful and appropriate content.

This is an extremely important rule. Your readers don't have a lot of time. They are focused on their own needs, concerns and interests. There's little point in sending an email newsletter that doesn't appeal to your target audience.

While actually writing the articles may take time, coming up with article ideas does not have to be difficult.

So, where do you find useful and appropriate content? Here are 3 ideas for mortgage email newsletter articles your readers will love.

Frequently asked questions.
Do you find yourself answering the same borrower questions over and over? Write them down. Those questions and answers can form the basis of a series of articles. One client, for example, noticed she kept answering the same questions from first time homeowners. We put together a series of articles for first time homebuyers based on those questions.
"Small" talk.
Successful salespeople know small talk is anything but. When you chitchat with your clients, what do they talk about? More importantly, what are their complaints? So-called small talk provides a treasure trove of article content ideas.

Here are some examples:
- Do your clients complain about high taxes? Provide a series of tax tips.
- Are your clients worried about the high cost of college tuition? Tell them about grant and scholarship opportunities.
- Do your clients talk about "hitting the town" each weekend? Add an "out and about" section to your newsletter.
Address misconceptions.
Do you get calls from potential borrowers expecting to get the interest rate announced on the morning news? Put together an article explaining what determines mortgage interest rates.

Properly created newsletters increase repeat and referral business. You don't have to struggle to find articles your clients will love. Listen and observe -- great article ideas are everywhere.

JC Kadii, MortgageEzines.com . 770-469-7385. Through http://www.close-more-loans.com/, JC leads a team providing top notch administrative, internet marketing, and technology services to mortgage professionals. Mortgage professionals are encouraged to visit the website and sign up for the More Closings email newsletter to receive the report 6 Steps to More Referrals.

What Housing Bubble? One Company's Recession-Proof Business Model

2008-08-01T08:51:15Z

The Atlanta Business Chronicle, one of my favorite periodicals, recently ran an article profiling a landscaping company that has used its "nearly recession proof business model" to beat the odds.

Despite two housing downturns and one of the worst droughts in Georgia history, Piedmont Landscape Contractors, Inc. not only survives but thrives. Its revenues have risen from $2.7 million in 2000 to $30 million in 2007. (How do you like those numbers?)

Reading the article provided many AHA! moments. I couldn't help noticing how closely the company's actions matched the habits of some of my most financially successful clients.

Lessons Learned

Here are some of the components of Piedmont Landscape Contractors' nearly recession proof business model.

Pay close attention to the cost of doing business.
Keep your prices competitive by lowering costs without affecting your customer service.
Price your services in order to have a healthy, sustainable profit margin.
Put your customer service staff in place before you need them.
Look into diversifying your income streams, so that all of your eggs are not in one basket.

Read the entire article here.

Robots Don't Get Mortgages - Don't Forget Humans in Your Mortgage Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Strategy

2008-07-30T09:27:09Z

By JC Kadii, Mortgage Website Makeovers

As a virtual assistant to mortgage professionals, I offer Mortgage Website Makeovers.

I have found that there is a staggering amount of mis-information in the mortgage industry about what effective search engine optimization (SEO) involves.

A lot of the advice leaves out an important point: the robots that crawl sites cannot purchase homes.

When optimizing your mortgage website so that it ranks higher in search engines, don't forget that the entire point of this exercise is to get the humans who visit your website to contact you and close a loan.

Here are few questions to consider:

Do your keywords and content mesh?
Is your website easy to navigate?
Do you have a way to collect leads?
Do you have persuasive content that shortens the sales cycle?

JC Kadii, Mortgage Virtual Assistant^SM . 770-469-7385. Through http://www.close-more-loans.com/, JC leads a team providing top notch internet marketing and technology services to mortgage professionals. Mortgage professionals are encouraged to visit the website and sign up for the More Closings email newsletter to receive the report 6 Steps to More Referrals.

Outlook Tip for Mortgage Professionals: Quickly Add Contacts to Categories

2008-07-25T05:46:11Z

By JC Kadii, MortgageVirtualAssistant.com^SM

When I teach an Outlook skills class, students are always excited to learn how they can use categories to group their data and save time.

Let's say you're a mortgage originator with 100 contacts you'd like to add to the category "Clients." It will take a couple of hours for you to open each contact, click the Categories button, select the Clients category, close the Categories box, and save and close the Contact. Sheesh! I get a headache just thinking about it!

Fortunately, there's an easier way.

Select the contacts you want to add to a category.
Right click.
Select Categories.
Click the check box next to the category (ex., "Clients").

In one step, all of the contacts you've selected are added to that category.

Blogger Tip: Create Post Now, Send it Later

2008-07-22T16:58:40Z

By JC Kadii, MortgageVirtualAssistant.com^SM

I use Blogger for a blog I maintain for my Tech Training and Consulting Business.

One of the features I absolutely love is the ability to schedule posts - in other words, you write your posts now, and schedule them for a future date and time. This feature makes it easy to keep your blog content fresh.

Last week, I taught Access and Outlook classes and came away with a lot of tips based on questions students asked me in class. Rather than uploading 10 posts at once, for example, I can create the posts and schedule them to go out once a week for the next 10 weeks.

Here's how it works.

Create the post.
Click the Post Options link.
Under Post Date and Time, type the date and time you want to publish your post.
Click Publish Post.

That's all there is to it.

The Critical 1st Step to Generating Repeat and Referral Mortgage Business

2008-07-19T14:21:50Z

By JC Kadii, MortgageVirtualAssistant.com^SM

Savvy mortgage professionals (loan officers, originators, brokers) know the benefits of cultivating repeat and referral business. While it is also smart to market for new business, spending the time to grow your repeat and referral clients makes your mortgage business less susceptible to economic fluctuations.

Great resources (articles, books, websites) on generating repeat and referral business are in abundant supply. They provide concrete steps to getting referrals, and well as strategies for putting your repeat and referral business on auto-pilot.

There is, however, one critical first step to generating repeat and referral business. Without this step, consistently getting repeat and referral business will be like pulling teeth. With this step, clients will continue to come to you during good times and bad.

Here's the 1st step - take care of your clients. Yes, you will still have to ask for referrals, but doing the best job possible makes it much easier to get clients to say "yes."

As one future client told me, explaining why he is having his best year, "Every morning I ask myself, what can I do better today?"

In the words of Walt Disney, "Do what you do so well that they will want to see it again and bring their friends."

Using Outlook Express' Signature Files to Automate your Messages

2008-07-10T17:53:36Z

By JC Kadii, MortgageVirtualAssistant.com^SM

In a previous post, (Almost) Automate Your Email Responses with MS Outlook, I provided instructions on using MS Outlook's Signature Files to create and send standard email messages.

You can also do use MS Outlook Express' signature feature.

The instructions are slightly different.

Creating a Standard Message using Microsoft Outlook Express Signatures..

Create and edit the standard message in Microsoft Word.
Save the message as a text file. On the File Menu, click Save As. Under Save as type, select Plain text I usually save the file on my c:\ drive, as "sig_" and then the file name, (ex., c:\sig_directions.txt).
In Outlook Express, select Tools Menu.
Click the Signatures tab, then New.
Click Rename and type the name of the signature file, ex., Directions.
Under the Edit Signature section, make sure File is selected. Click Browse.
Click to select the name of the file, then Open.
Click OK.

Using your Outlook Express Standard Message.

While editing your email message, click on the Insert Menu, then Signature. Select and insert the signature.

This is one of my favorite time-savers of all time. So, make a list of all of your routine email messages and start creating signatures!

(Almost) Automate your Responses with MS Outlook's Signature Files

2008-07-10T16:55:20Z

(Almost) Automate our Email Responses with MS Outlook
By JC Kadii, MortgageVirtualAssistant.com^SM

During a mortgage transaction, there are a number of emails that are identical (or very similar.)

Some examples are:

Closing instructions,
Directions to your office,
"How we work" email to new clients,
Responses to leads,
Responses to frequently asked questions (ex., about rates, credit scoring models, and loan guidelines, etc.)

You can save tons of time by creating standard email messages as Microsoft Outlook signature files, inserting and tweaking them when the situation warrants it.

Here's how.

Creating a Standard Message using Microsoft Outlook Signatures..

Create and edit the standard message in Microsoft Word.
Select and copy all of the text in the message.
In Microsoft Outlook, click on the Tools menu, and select Options.
Make sure the Mail Format tab is selected
Click on Signature, then New.
Type in a name for your signature, ex., Directions.
Select Start with a Blank Signature.
Click Next.
Under This text will be included in outgoing mail messages, paste the text. You can use the Font or Advanced Edit buttons to make changes to your signature.

Using the Signature File.

While editing your email message, click on the Insert Menu, then Signature. Select and insert the signature.

This is one of my favorite time-savers of all time. So, make a list of all of your routine email messages and start creating signatures!

Update: MS Outlook Express instructions found here.

Credit Repair Companies - Pros? Cons? Thoughts?

2008-07-10T02:45:17Z

By JC Kadii, MortgageVirtualAssistant.com^SM

In this tightening market, a borrower's credit profile is more important than ever. I find, however, that many of my clients are reluctant to work with credit repair or restoration companies.

So, I am requesting feedback from mortgage and real estate professionals (not credit repair representatives) who've worked with credit repair companies. If you'd rather not post your comments, feel free to send them to me via email.

What made you choose the credit repair company?
Would you recommend other professionals use credit repair companies? Why or why not?
What questions do you recommend asking to determine if a credit repair company is legitimate?
What services did the credit repair company provide?
Does the company educate consumers on ways to improve their credit and help them remove erroneous information from their credit report?

Please do not post the names or contact information of credit repair or restoration companies. If you have a company you'd like to recommend, feel free to email me the information.

Thank you.

10 Key Marketing Strategies (Teleclass for Real Estate Professionals) Wednesday, July 9, 2008

2008-07-07T09:38:49Z

Marketing to Drive Innovation: What You Can't Afford Not to Know
A teleclass for Real Estate professionals led by Bea Fields and Pam Gantt, President of Key Mortgage, LLC

Radical innovation is going to be a critical component in a leader's toolkit in the future, and this does not mean that you "try to innovate" over a week-end brainstorming retreat.

True innovation happens by disrupting the current environment, challenging old assumptions and even turning the culture upside down so that you can take a creative idea, turn it into a product or service and successfully and profitably move it to the marketplace.

Join Bea Fields as she talks with top Mortgage Broker and Owner, Pam Gantt, President of Key Mortgage, LLC about the 10 key marketing strategies you can use, starting today, to drive innovation for your Real Estate company.

Date: Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Time: 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. Eastern
Place: Your location (This is a teleclass)
Register Online: http://beafields.com/teleclasses.html
Once you register, you will receive an email with the dial-in number and instructions.

Can't call in? We encourage you to register anyway. We will send you the information to download a recording of the teleclass. This recording will only be available to those who register.

About Pam Gantt and Key Mortgage, LLC

Pam Gantt has been in the banking and finance business for more than 20 years. She opened the first Key Mortgage office in Pinehurst in August 2001 and today has mortgage loan consultants and branches located throughout North Carolina.

Pam is one of a small percentage of mortgage professionals to attain standing as a nationally recognized Certified Mortgage Consultant, the most advanced designation for mortgage professionals who are members of the National Association of Mortgage Brokers.

Key Mortgage, LLC is approved to offer FHA and VA financing, and was recognized as a Small Business Blue Ribbon Award Winner by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in 2006.

About Bea Fields

Bea Fields is the President of Bea Fields Companies, Inc. and the Founder of Five Star Leader Coaching and Training, a leadership consulting firm currently serving over 800 clients world-wide.

Her latest book, co-authored with Scott Wilder, Jim Bunch and Rob Newbold, Millennial Leaders: Success Stories From Today's Most Brilliant Generation Y Leaders is now on sale through Barnes & Noble and Amazon. The new book explores and analyzes Generation Y - the young adults currently between the ages of 18 and 30 - from a socio-economic standpoint. The book highlights 25 members of this generation who have already made a name for themselves, and provides crucial insights for business and political leaders seeking to tap into this demographic. Along with Corey Blake and Eva Silva Travers, she is also the author of Edge: A Leadership Story (May: 2008).

Mortgage Email Marketing: How to Automatically Send a Complimentary Report to your Subscribers

2008-07-02T07:59:49Z

By JC Kadii, MortgageEzines.com^SM

One way to encourage subscribers to your mortgage email newsletter is to provide an incentive or complimentary report. This report should contain valuable information that appeals to your target subscriber, something that they would be hard pressed to find anywhere else.

A great starting point for developing an attractive complimentary report is to think of types of problems you hear your clients mention, or the questions they often ask. Your target market will find any information you provide that addresses their most pressing problems irresistible.

We help our mortgage email marketing clients brainstorm topics, and develop complimentary reports for their target subscribers.

If your mortgage company targets real estate professionals, for example, here are some ideas:

A beginner's guide to blogging,
Tips on keeping your blog fresh without turning it into a full-time job,
A marketing plan workbook, or
A collection of shortcuts for the most popular real estate software.

Subscribers expect to receive their complimentary report immediately, and no one has the time to monitor subscriptions and send out individual reports.

If you are a constantcontact.com user, here's a way to automate the distribution of your complimentary report.

Step 1 - Upload the report to your website. Some of the mortgage website template packages will not allow you to upload documents. If this is the case, use one of the many free document hosting services available.

Step 2 - Make a note of the link to your complimentary report, ex., http://www.yourweb~site~url.com/moreblogging-lesstime.pdf. If the link is long and unwieldly, use snipurl.com or tinyurl.com to shorten it.

Step 3 - Insert the link to your complimentary report in your welcome message, which is automatically sent by Constant Contact to each new subscriber to your mortgage email newsletter.

To customize your welcome letter, click My Settings > Site Visitor Signup > Edit your Contact Email > Edit welcome message.

Please note: It is always a good idea to take the time to customize your welcome message. ConstantContact sends the welcome message to subscribers who use your sign up form. The subscribers you import will not receive the welcome message.

That's it. Now, everyone who signs up for your constantcontact email newsletter will automatically receive your complimentary report.

Want more tips? Join the Constant Contact Users' Group on Active Rain.

Ready to try Constant Contact? Get 60 days free now, and a $30 credit when you become a paying customer.

JC Kadii, MortgageEzines.com. 770-469-7385. JC's team provides email marketing services to mortgage professionals. Mortgage professionals are encouraged to visit the website and sign up for the More Closings email newsletter to receive the report 6 Steps to More Referrals.

Too Much to Do? Rejoice!

2008-06-22T03:19:33Z

Dealing with too much to do? Are you overwhelmed? Rejoice! You're a member of a pretty large club.

Here's a secret. Even those of us with a reputation for organization lose track. Follow these practical steps and gain control.

Step 1 - Make a "Brain Dump" List

Make a list of everything you have to do, no matter how minor. Work according to your personality. If you can complete this list in one setting, by all means do so. If you, like me, need to work on projects in pieces, then complete the list a little at a time. If you know how much time the task takes to complete, write that down as well.

Quick Tip:
If things to do are keeping you awake, keep a notebook by your bedside and jot them down.

Step 2 – Jackie's Practical Guide to Prioritization.

Most “time management” books talk about Priorities A, B, C. How do you determine what’s an A, B, or C priority?

I prioritize by asking questions.

1. Does the boss need it?
I started my business to "be my own boss." I learned pretty quickly, though, that each client is “the boss.” It the boss needs it, it is a top priority and it becomes my responsibility to either get it done or get help to get it done.

2. Is it a bright idea?
You've heard the saying -- each person has several million-dollar ideas. All bright ideas for projects, products or services go into my “bright idea book.” I use a neon-colored notebook and list each idea on a separate page.

3. How related is this “thing to do” to this month’s bottom line?
My advice: if this action item will help you close more loans this month, it immediately moves to the top of the list.

4. How related is this “thing to do” to future revenue? Action items related to bringing in more business are also extremely important (Priority A- or B+). If you don’t keep the pipeline full, you will quickly find yourself in big trouble.

5. Does someone else need this done in order to do their work?
Your day will go a lot smoother with fewer interruptions if you take care of these items.

6. What’s the worst that can happen?
If I can live with the consequences, I don't have time to do it, and it doesn't affect anyone else, I let it go.

7. Do I absolutely have to handle this personally, or can I delegate?
If someone else can do it, hire them.

8. Can I share the workload with someone else?

9. Can I do it in 5 minutes or less?
If the answer is yes, go ahead and get it out of the way. This is particularly true if someone else needs it in order to do their work. Experience the joy of crossing one item of your list. (Of course, this will not work if you have one hundred 5-minute items.)

I hope you find this guide helpful.

MS Office 2003 Tip - Get Quick Access to Frequently Used Commands

2008-06-19T22:40:56Z

MS Office 2003 Tip - Get Quick Access to Frequently Used Commands
By JC Kadii, MortgageVirtualAssistant.com^SM

This tip shows you how to add buttons to any toolbar in the Microsoft Office 2003 suite (Access, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Publisher, Word, etc.)

Why is this useful? I have found that adding a couple of buttons to the toolbar for frequently used commands speeds up my productivity.

A perfect example, from Microsoft Excel, is the button to delete a row from a spreadsheet. Clicking on a button is a lot faster than having to go through the Edit menu each time I need to remove a row.

Here are the instructions for adding the Insert Rows button to your toolbar. Although this is an Excel command, similar steps will work for all MS Office programs.

Right click in the blue area to the right of any of your toolbars.
Click on Customize.
When the dialog box pops up, click on the Commands tab.
Under the Categories list box, click on Edit.
Scroll down the Commands list box until you come to Delete Rows
Click on Delete Rows and drag it to any toolbar.
Voila! You're done. The next time you need to delete a row, simply click on the button you've added to your toolbar.

Now, go and experiment to see how many buttons you can add to your existing Access, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint or Publisher toolbars to save you tons of time.

JC Kadii, Mortgage Virtual Assistant^SM . 770-469-7385. Through http://www.close-more-loans.com/, JC provides Access, Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint and Publisher training to mortgage professionals. Mortgage professionals are encouraged to visit close-more-loans.com and sign up for the More Closings email newsletter to receive the report 6 Steps to More Referrals.

PowerPoint and Homebuyer Seminar Tip for Mortgage Professionals

2008-06-05T08:18:59Z

By JC Kadii, MortgageVirtualAssistant.com^SM

In this post, I explained the differences between two powerful tools Mortgage Professionals can use to generate leads: Homebuyer Seminars and Lead Generation Speeches.

The following PowerPoint tip will help you keep the slides for your Homebuyer Seminars and Lead Generation Speeches in sync.

Introducing PowerPoint's Custom Slide Shows

PowerPoint's Custom Slide Show feature allows you to use the specific slides from a single presentation in a customized presentation. Let's say you have a homebuyer seminar on "Mortgages for First Time Homebuyers." You have sections in your homebuyer seminar called "Down Payment Assistance Programs for Teachers," and "Down Payment Assistance Programs for First-Responders." You'd like to use each of these sections as a lead generating speech.

Creating a Custom Slide Show

Launch PowerPoint and open your presentation.
From the Slide Show menu, select Custom Show
Click the New button.
Next to Slide Show Name, type in the name of your show (ex., DPA_Teachers).
Double-click on each slide you'd like to add to your custom show.
Once you've added all of the slides, click the OK button.
Click Close.

To use a Custom Show.

Click the Slide Show menu
Click Setup Show
Click the name of the show you'd like to select (ex., DPA_Teachers).
Run the presentation.

2 Powerful Mortgage Lead Generation Tools: Homebuyer Seminars and Lead Generation Speeches

2008-06-05T08:18:21Z

By JC Kadii, MortgageVirtualAssistant.com^SM

In a previous post, I explained how we help mortgage professionals leverage lead generating speeches.

A lead generating speech or talk is simply one in your area of expertise that you can offer to various groups.

Lead Generating Speeches vs. Homebuyer Workshops

With a homebuyer workshop, you'd have to develop the presentation, schedule the presentation, find a location, promote the workshop and handle registration.
With a lead generation speech, you'd have to develop the presentation, find sponsoring organizations, create a promotional strategy to persuade sponsoring organizations to invite you speak, and provide the speech. You typically would not find the location or register attendees.
A lead generation speech is often shorter than a homebuyer workshop. While a homebuyer workshop may run for 1 to 4 hours, most lead generation speeches should be 20-30 minutes.

Save time by outsourcing this task to your MortgageVirtualAssistant.com^SM

When we partner with a mortgage professional to develop homebuyer workshops or lead generating speeches, we handle as much or as little as they need. Some of the services we have provided include:

Identifying topics based on a client's niche,
Researching and developing the PowerPoint presentation,
Identifying potential sponsoring organizations,
Creating registration pages on a client's website,
Promoting the workshop,
Developing strategies to leverage a client's workshop, and more.

Save time by basing your lead generation speech on a homebuyer workshop.

Let's say you have a seminar on mortgage options for first time homebuyers. The topics you cover include homebuyer assistance programs for Teachers and First Responders (police, fire-fighters, etc.). From this homebuyer seminar, you could create two lead generating speeches: one for teacher groups, and another for first responders.

What happens when programs/guidelines change?

If you keep your presentations in separate PowerPoint presentations, every time a program changes, you'd have to update two or three files. That can get old, fast. For this reason, it makes sense to keep the slides in one presentation.

This post, PowerPoint and Homebuyer Seminar Tips for Mortgage Professionals, shows you how to keep your presentations in sync.

Banishing the Blues: Going from Miserable to Merry in Less than 2 Minutes

2008-05-31T16:12:43Z

Banishing the Blues: Going from Miserable to Merry in Less than 2 Minutes
By JC Kadii, MortgageVirtualAssistant.com^SM

I was on my way to do one of my favorite things - teach a class. Yet, why did I feel so bad? I am generally a happy person, and able to see the humor in many situations. People compliment me on my optimistic outlook. I had no reason to be blue, but on this day, I just felt bad.

As if to slather the icing on my cake of blues, here comes Smokey, flashing lights and all. I sat in the KFC parking lot, grimly accepted my traffic ticket and marinated in misery. I continued my trip, slipping further and further into "stinkin' thinkin."

Then I started to think about my students. They were coming to a class at 10:00 a.m. on a Saturday morning. They did not deserve this wet blanket, this sour puss. Instead, they should see "normal Jackie," the one a student describes as:

She draws you into her presentation with real life examples, adding a touch of natural humor.

I had to change my mood, and quick! But what to do? So, I pulled on the things I've read and seen and just decided to show gratitude. I kept repeating "Dear Lord, I am so thankful and grateful that …" I said it with emotion, using my hands and voice.

As I drove along shouting and waving one hand (had the keep the other on the steering wheel) I could see out of the corner of my right eye, the expressions on the other drivers' faces. They were afraid, very afraid. I did not care, man. I was banishing the blues! Elevating my mood! Getting in the happy zone!

By the 4th time I'd said the phrase, the blues were gone. By the 6th time, I was "back to myself." By the time I reached the classroom, I had forgotten I was ever blue in the first place.

As we go through the mortgage meltdown, credit crunch, or whatever you may call it, you may need to elevate your mood or restore your equanimity. Try this - it worked for me.

1 Mind + 1 Mind = Master Mind

2008-05-31T15:20:49Z

1 Mind + 1 Mind = Master Mind
By JC Kadii, MortgageVirtualAssistant.com^SM

In the classic book Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill defines the Master Mind as

"coordination of knowledge and effort, in a spirit of harmony, between two or more people, for the attainment of definite purpose."

I've had the pleasure of experiencing the power of Master Mind in action.

For the past few months, D. Bass of Alpha Mortgage Training and I have had weekly conference calls to discuss co-presenting workshops for mortgage and real estate professionals. (She writes the Ask the Underwriter blog on AR).

D's section of our joint workshop covers loan programs, and mine focuses on low-cost and online marketing strategies. We have the first workshop scheduled for July 11 in Atlanta, Georgia.

After a few weeks, I noticed something astonishing - on almost every call, I came away with a solution to a business problem or another fantastic idea for growing my business. D mentions attaining similar results.

In some cases, it happens as the result of a direct question. While we were discussing the venue for our July 11 class, Dionne brought to my attention a couple of courses I need to offer. It never occurred to me that there would be a need for these courses, but the more she explained, the more excited I became.

In many cases, it happens almost by magic. Here is an example. D asked for my advice on adding a feature on her website. I explained how to get it done, and mentioned that I had long been searching for an easier and cheaper way. In the midst of explaining the problem, I talked my way into the solution! Did I mention I had been struggling with this problem for months?

I'd like to publicly say thanks to D - and how much I look forward to our weekly calls.

I 'd also like to encourage you to find a like-minded colleague and put the power of the Master Mind to work!

Quick Links

For the Alpha Mortgage Training "Ask the Underwriter" blog, click here.
For additional information about the July 11 Class for Mortgage and Real Estate Professionals, visit ThrivingInTodaysMarket.com. (The early registration discount ends June 11, 2008)

Bypassing Constant Contact's Image Restriction

2008-05-29T10:12:40Z

By JC Kadii, Mortgage Virtual Assistant^SM

Those of you who use ConstantContact.com for your email newsletters know that you can store up to 5 images in your ConstantContact.com account for free.

What do you do if you need to store more than five pictures? You have two choices: (1) upgrade your Constant Contact account or (2) use the following tip to add pictures for free.

How to link to an image in your Constant Contact account.

The HTML code to link an image is:
img src="source of graphic picture" alt="description of graphic".

Please note: the code must be enclosed in brackets <>. It is good coding practice to use the ALT tag to include a description of your picture for the visually impaired.

Here's an example.

The code to display this image:

Looks like this:
img src="http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/.../ol_message_opt.jpg " alt="Outlook message options dialog box"

Where to store images.

The image can be stored on your website's server. If your website, like some template mortgage websites I've seen, does not allow you to store images, you can always use a free service image storage service like photobucket.com.

JC Kadii, Mortgage Virtual Assistant^SM . Through MortgageEzines.com , JC and her team provides turnkey and customized email marketing services to mortgage professionals. All new mortgage email marketing clients receive a complimentary copy of her audio program 4 keys to Profitable Mortgage Email Marketing.

Prioritizing your Outlook Tasks - Part 2

2008-05-19T20:46:30Z

Prioritizing your Outlook Tasks - Part 2
By JC Kadii, MortgageVirtualAssistant.com^SM

Once you've decided on a system for prioritizing your tasks, it's time to implement the system. (If you haven't already, please read the previous post on prioritizing tasks.

Under Current View, which is on the left hand side of your screen, make sure Simple List is selected.

Click the Field Chooser button on the toolbar.

Make sure All Task Fields is selected.

Click and drag you the Priority field to the fields on your Task List.

To simply sort by your priority field, click the Priority field header.

To group by tasks by Priority, go to the View menu, click Arrange by then Customize. Click the Group by button, and select Priority.

Prioritizing your Outlook Tasks - Part 1

2008-05-19T20:45:23Z

Prioritizing your Outlook Tasks - Part 1
By JC Kadii, MortgageVirtualAssistant.com^SM

When I posted an Outlook tip on calculating dates , Mara posed the following question: I have a long list of tasks. Do you know if there is there a way to put them in priority order without dating them?

Well, Mara, this one's for you.

There are two steps to putting your tasks in priority order.

Step 1 - Decide how you want to prioritize your tasks.
Step 2 - Use Outlook's Field Chooser to implement your prioritization system.

This post will cover the first step, and the next one will cover the second step.

Here are some options for prioritizing your tasks.

Prioritize your tasks using the A,B,C priority system.
Prioritize your tasks using the 4 Quadrants in Steven Covey's book, "7 Habits of Highly Effective People."
1. Quadrant 1 - Urgent & Important
2. Quadrant 2 - Not Urgent, Important
3. Quadrant 3 - Urgent, Not Important
4. Quadrant 4 - Not Urgent, Not Important

I prioritize my tasks by client, and by urgency (ex., 1= must be done today, 3= must be done this week, etc.). This way, I can quickly see all the tasks I'm supposed to complete for a particular client or all of the ones I have to get done today.

Click here for Part 2.